The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-30
Mob Fills the Streets Around the Jail and
Manifests Disposition to Lynch the As
sailants of Miss Jennie Bowman,
Provided Somebody Will Guarantee the
Avengers Against Personal Violence.
The Prisoners Strongly Guarded by Police
men and Local Mlitia--General Belief
that the Law Will Not Be Overridden.
AN EXCITING TIME.
Mob Which Seems To Be Deficient In Bott
Leadership and Courage.


A Mob Which Seems To Be Deficient In Both
Leadership and Courage.
Special to the Indianapolis journal
LOUISVILLE, April 29-At 6l5 p NJ it was
bulletined at the newspaper Offices that Miss
Bowman the girl assaulted by the negroes Pat
terson and Turner. was dead. This announce
ment greatly intensified the feeling of indigna-
ton already existing. The news quickly spread.
and although the announcement of the girls
death authoritatively denied. the influence
of the first rumor could not be counteracted At
7P. NJ. the attendant physician reported that
Miss Bowman was gradually sinking. and that
death would probably ensue before midnight
At noon the preconcerted signal. eleven taps
the City Hall ball. called the militia to assem-
BILE at their armory. Not over one-third of
them responded and uniformed patrol detach-
ments were sent out to bring in the delinouents
Probably two.thirds of the Louisville Legion
were, at 6 p. NJ. under arms at the armory.
Adjutant-eeneral Castleman, in addressing the
troops. said:
''You are only to obey orders. not to act
hastily rashly, and as little force as pos
sible in executing commends.'
This evening il is noticed that the color line is
being drawn, the negroes appearing to be appre-
hensive of mob violence, and gathering by them
selves on the street corners in the negro quarters
of the city. The fact CT the possibility of an
attempt to execute threats made to wipe out"
some of the more notorious negro dives and
their inma ates. is thought to have influenced the
calling out of the militia. The hoodlum and
non-workine white class concentrated in the
vicinity of the Jail square in such force to-day
that good grounds exist for apprehension of a
general riot in case the efforts of the lynchers
should be successful. Practically. all OF the PC
lice fbrce have been concentrated AT the jail and
City Hall. and part Of the fire department is
held in readiness to respond as police auxiliary
if called upon.
AT s p. NJ. crowd in line paraded the
streets bearing transparency with the words:
"One thousand wanted to assis. in
lynchng Patterson and Turner" At every
block their numbers are increased. The crowd
in the streets leading to the Jail is very large.
and they are beginning to press upon the police
Gordon thrown out 100 yards from the City Hall
in every direction.
An attempt was made at 8 o'clock to send out
the fire engine from an engine house adjoining
the jail, in order to open line in the dense
crowd sufficient to give the police foo,hold.
when an effort would be made to extend the po-
lice lines The attempt was failure tho crowd
refusing to yield.
At $50 o'clock, Judge Jackson, of the Circuit
Court, drove in a coupe to the inside police line,
and addressed the crowd, telling them that the
courts able to punish the offenders, and
that the authorities would, at all hazards, pro-
tect the prisoners. He asked the crowd to dis
perse Hs had not concluded when opportunity
was taken of the temporary relaxation of police
vigilance and rush made for the Jail. A
sharp struggle ensued, but. although the police
lines were forced back. they held the mob at
bay. During the melee Police Lieutenant Nc
Grath was hit on the head with brick, and
seriously injured. Judge Jackson's carriage dis
appeared in the direction of the. armory.
Governor Knott and staff arrived from Frank
fort at 730 o'clock. The United States flag was
hosted over the custom house and postofice
budding this afternoon
Immediately after Judge Jackson's arrival at
the armory five companies of the Legion and
light infantry were sent to the City Hail. Strong
picket lines were posted across all approaches to
the Jail and Gatling placed in position
ready for instant use in front of the Jail build
inc. three companies of militia being held in
reserve at the armory. The police. notwith-
standing the strong military support made no
| attempt to disperse the mob, being satisfied to
| maintain their present position.
Impromptu indignation meetings are being
| held at different points, the hoodlum element
| ralying at saloons beyond the reach of possible
| police sorties.
At 1915 A. II. attack was made on the JEFF
| ferson-street lines. the mob being armed with
| pistols, clubs, iron bars, etc. AS they came on
| with rush several pistol-shots were fred fr ON
| the crowd. The police. supported BY company
| of militia, again proved too strong for the
| attacking force, and the mob were forced
back Fifty police charged upon them.
| In the struggle which followed several OF the
| crowd were trampled upon, and many heads
were broken. Three of the officers were seri.
ously hurt. Forty prisoners were added to the
already overcrowded station house as result OF
| the sortie.
At l3O A. NJ there was no change in the situa
| tiou.
| The crowds about the courthouse square have
dwindled down to three or four hundred people
and these dispensing gradually. Three
hundred and fifty soldiers. with Gatlins
gun, and hundred and fifty armed
policemen stand guard at the Jail The meeting
agreed upon to take place at the courthouse a,
10 A. N. tomorrow will not be allowed, aud there
is hardly doubt that the law will be al
lowed to take its course
The girl is almost certain to die and the evil
dence is strong enough in that case to bring
both men to the gallows
-